As the black dot continued to enlarge, Perfikot couldn’t help but open her mouth wide because what appeared before her was the massive Flying Airship that had caused a sensation in Langton.
Today’s weather wasn’t particularly good, but there weren’t many clouds in the sky, so Perfikot could see the silver-gray hull of the Flying Airship that had lowered its flight altitude from a distance. Follow current novels on Nove1Fire.net
As she watched the Flying Airship gradually approach her and grow ever larger, Perfikot felt a sense of vertigo.
It was truly enormous.
Although she designed it herself, even Perfikot never imagined what a spectacular sight it would be to have a large airship over a hundred meters long fly towards her like a mountain.
The appearance of the Flying Airship naturally triggered a response within the base. Five Steam Knights quickly appeared beside Perfikot, and Captain William personally stepped forward, clad in Steam Knight armor, to ask if she needed to take refuge.
"That’s the Empire’s Flying Airship, it’s something I designed, why would there be a need to dodge?" Perfikot was indifferent to this, she didn’t think the Flying Airship would pose any danger to her.
Seeing this, Captain William said no more, but maintained a vigilant stance.
Meanwhile, Samantha, along with the Imperial Guard Knights, guarded Perfikot’s side. Although the White Bear Knight Order, now equipped with Steam Knight armor, took on more of the task of guarding Perfikot, there were still occasions unsuitable for the presence of Steam Knights, where the Imperial Guard Knights provided protection.
Because of this, Samantha stayed close to protect Perfikot, though with Perfikot’s current change in status, the continued presence of the Imperial Guard Knights by her side became somewhat awkward.
After all, the Imperial Guard Knights were still the exclusive order of knights of the Royal Family, representing the Royalty.
Previously, Perfikot was merely a regular female baron, their presence symbolized her status as a special envoy with full powers, as well as the Royal Family’s favor and trust.
But as Perfikot was elevated from an ordinary female baron to Northern Expedition Count and Northern Guardian, positions with real military and political power, the presence of the Imperial Guard Knights seemed more like surveillance.
Although Perfikot herself knew this wasn’t the case, the identity of the Imperial Guard Knights in the Northern Territory was somewhat delicate.
Until a formal order was received, Samantha had to fulfill her duty, guarding Perfikot at all times.
Thus, when the Flying Airship docked at the berth on Eagle’s Beak Cliff, what appeared before the passengers disembarking was Perfikot protected by five Imperial Guard Knights and five Steam Knights, a display even grander than that of Eldest Princess Annie coming off the Airship.
This prompted Eldest Princess Annie to teasingly say, "Little Perfikot, you really have the demeanor of an Empire’s Northern Guardian now."
"Aunt Annie? What brings you here?" Perfikot was extremely astonished; she never expected Eldest Princess Annie to personally come to the Northern Territory.
"This is the Empire’s first meaningful Flying Airship maiden voyage, as a representative of the Royal Family, naturally, I have to experience it firsthand, don’t I?" Eldest Princess Annie said with a smile, walking up to Perfikot: "Moreover, I came to see how the Empire’s development efforts are progressing in the Northern Territory, and to discuss with you some matters regarding next year’s immigration to the Northern Territory."
Perfikot nodded in understanding upon hearing Eldest Princess Annie say this.
Although she knew things were definitely not as simple as Eldest Princess Annie claimed, these were certainly the Empire’s official statements.
So Perfikot said no more, just had people welcome the Eldest Princess according to protocol and also instructed the camp to quickly prepare a welcome banquet for Eldest Princess Annie.
Due to the cold weather, the welcome ceremony was very brief, and Eldest Princess Annie soon returned with Perfikot to the Eagle’s Beak Cliff camp.
Arriving at the reception room of Perfikot’s laboratory, Eldest Princess Annie took off her heavy winter clothes, revealing the military dress uniform she often wore, then sat on the sofa and sighed, "Little Perfikot, coming here isn’t easy. Without the Flying Airship, I would probably have to wait until next spring to come over."
"That’s why when I considered addressing the apocalypse crisis, my first thought was to develop transportation tools. Otherwise, relying solely on ship transportation efficiency is really too low," Perfikot deeply agreed with Eldest Princess Annie’s sentiment.
However, aside from the sentiment, Perfikot got straight to the point and asked, "Aunt Annie, what’s your real purpose for coming this time?"
"Mainly to bring you some people. I know you’re short on manpower here; otherwise, you wouldn’t have even recruited a palace attendant. You know he’s a person of the Royal Family, aren’t you afraid of Royal Family infiltration into the Northern Territory? My Northern Guardian," Eldest Princess Annie made a joke, but then she continued, "The palace attendant you recruited helped you recruit about fifty clerks from Langton, most of whom have experience serving in the Empire’s colonies or public departments."
However, considering the limited conditions here, and that most people need to settle personal affairs, most won’t come until spring arrives. Only five people came aboard this time."
"Five people? That’s enough, as long as they’re not the kind that only move after a whip is cracked," Perfikot was slightly disappointed there were only five people, but didn’t find it problematic.
After all, the Northern Territory was only this large; having too many people would actually leave her with nowhere to accommodate them.
Eldest Princess Annie shook her head and made no comment, simply continuing, "Besides them, the main purpose of this maiden voyage of the Flying Airship was to bring you a research team recruited under the pretense of a polar expedition."
They were transferred from Royal Langton University per your request, a professor for each related field of architecture, engineering, biology, and alchemy for you, all coming with their teams."
They’re very enthusiastic about the polar expedition, so we really might have to take them to the North Pole then."
"Going to the North Pole? That’s not troublesome, just prepare an airship and travel there in the summer," Perfikot didn’t mind turning her fabricated excuse into reality, it wasn’t a hassle, "I just worry if after experiencing the Northern Territory’s snowstorms, they’ll still have the guts for the North Pole. And those old professors, do they really have the physical constitution for it?"
"That’s not our concern, is it?" Eldest Princess Annie laughed.
Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m